Chapter 103: Too Early

Selene’s POV

I was racking my brain trying to figure out what the best decision would be. I couldn’t decide for myself. I liked Aiden, but the idea of us dating felt like a burden ... or maybe I was just making it one.

Wasn’t it going to be distracting? I loved my books more than anything. Was a relationship going to come between me and my reading?

"Selene, you’re stupid. He’s a great guy. Say yes," a voice said inside my own head.

Maybe I was overthinking.

If Lucian could move on with his life, then who was I not to? The war inside me over relationships wasn’t far-fetched ... I just wanted to make sure my heart wasn’t going to end up shattered at the end of it all. But so far, Aiden had proven himself. So I agreed to date him. It was like patting yourself on the back and whispering, "You’ll be fine."

I would date Aiden. I said it to myself like a promise.

What had been blinding me before? Aiden was handsome, peaceful, and all he wanted was a chance. I thought we were the perfect pick for each other.

I texted him and he didn’t respond ... he wasn’t online. That was strange. I called him and his line wasn’t reachable. That was unlike him. I was burning inside, desperate to let him know how much I liked him back and that I wanted this. I wanted us.

So I set off to his house.

He had shown me where he lived for a reason, and he would surely be home.

I went on that little pilgrimage just to tell him yes. I wanted to know what it felt like to be held by another man. No more playing the good wolf. No more keeping myself locked away.

As Ms. Ashlyn had said ... I wanted to explore.

I reached his house and he wasn’t outside. No sign of him. But his car was parked in the driveway, so I knew he had to be somewhere inside or around.

"Aiden! Aiden!" I called out, several times. Nothing.

My mind started racing to dark places. Let it not be that Aiden had gone and done something stupid because of me. No ... he wasn’t that foolish. I circled the house, checking every side.

When I reached the back, I saw him. His back was turned to me, but I knew it was him immediately. He had heard me come, yet he didn’t turn around.

"Yes, Aiden," I said to his back. "I say yes. I’ll date you."

I paused, then added, "I’m ready to overcome my fears. So yes."

He turned around slowly, and I saw it ... tears in his eyes. I had come just in time. I ran to him and threw my arms around him.

"Thank you for saying yes," he said, holding me tighter than I expected.

"Of course I would say yes. What did you think I was going to say, huh?"

"I thought you were going to say no to me," he admitted.

"No." I pulled back slightly to look at him. "Why wasn’t your number reachable?"

"I needed to be alone. Crash out a little." He exhaled. "I genuinely thought I was walking into a heartbreak."

"I’m here now, Aiden," I said, and pulled him back into the hug.

Love really could save someone’s life.

We went inside his house. He told me his mom wasn’t around that day.

He brought out a glass of wine for each of us and paused before handing mine over. "Do you take wine? This one isn’t alcoholic," he said.

"Alright, I’ll have some," I agreed.

We clinked glasses and drank.

"So does this mean we’re now...?" I started, wanting to clarify things.

"Not yet. Finish your wine," he said with a small smile.

As I neared the bottom of my glass, I noticed something. A ring sitting at the base of the cup.

"Aiden..." I called his name before I could stop myself.

He was already on his knees. "Selene, will you give me the chance to love you? To be your person ... your confidant, your date?"

"Yes," I said without hesitation.

It wasn’t a marriage proposal, but it felt like a step in a direction that mattered. He slid the ring onto my left finger, gentle as ever ... gentle as the wolf he was.

"Can we... Can we...?" he started, and trailed off.

I already knew what he was asking. I stepped closer and nodded.

We kissed ... right there ... sealing it. Sealing us.

"Now we’re officially dating," he said, and we both laughed softly.

"One thing, Selene," he said.

"What?"

"You have to always wear your glasses."

I laughed. "Do you really think they make me look beautiful?"

"You’re beautiful either way. But I love you with them on."

I agreed. I would wear my glasses for him.

We settled together in his living room, and I found myself glancing around, noticing things I hadn’t paid attention to the last time I was here. His house was really beautiful.

It was a little awkward, honestly. We sat there and said nothing. We had talked about everything already ... there was nothing left to fill the air with. So we just existed in it.

I sat with my arms folded, grinding my teeth quietly, wondering what was running through his mind, because the same thing was running through mine. But I had never really dated before. I didn’t know how these things worked. How far things went. When.

The only person I had ever been betrothed to ... my fated mate ... I hadn’t even been present for. I was always so distant, always buried in the library with my books. No wonder my sister had taken him for herself and fucked the living daylights out of him until he was lost to exile.

I couldn’t let that happen again. Not with Aiden.

It’s too early, one part of me said.

No, it isn’t, the other fired back.

The conflicting thoughts were at it again.

Aiden shifted and sat down right beside me ... close. Very close.

We had both finished our wine.

"Do you want anything, Selene? Something to eat, or...?" he asked.

I shook my head. Didn’t even speak.

The atmosphere was already saying everything neither of us could. So he decided to move first.

He kissed me on the lips.

Two seconds. He pulled back. Then he came back ... harder this time, with purpose, his mouth meeting mine with real passion. I kissed him back.

We rolled our lips against each other, slow and searching. He pulled away again and asked, "Is this okay?"

"Yes," I breathed.

He came at me again with everything he had. We kissed on his couch.

What a time. His mom wasn’t even home.

He laid me back on the couch and we kept going. I kicked off my shoe. We found our rhythm, lips and breath and warmth all tangled together. When his tongue met mine, that wine gave me more courage than I knew I had. I kissed him back like he was already mine ... because in that moment, he was.

Then he moved to unbutton my shirt, and I caught his hand.

I wanted the foreplay. I wasn’t ready for anything more than that. Not this early.

He understood without me saying a word, and we stayed right where we were ... wrapped up in each other on that couch.

Then it hit me. A wave of dizziness, slow at first, then all at once. My head swam while his lips were still on mine. I thought he said the drink wasn’t alcoholic.

His mom wasn’t home.

Something felt off.

I pulled away from him.

"What’s wrong, Selene?" he asked, his voice careful.

I couldn’t find the words. I stood up, and the room tilted ... the entire world spinning upside down beneath my feet.

"I’m feeling..." I started.

He moved to catch me.

"I’m feeling..."

And then ... nothing. Darkness swallowed everything.